Method of improving the impact-protective properties of a conformable substrate

ABSTRACT

A method of improving an impact-protective property of a conformable substrate is provided. The method includes positioning a central core adjacent the conformable substrate. The central core includes a plurality of rigid plates. A first of the plates is joined by at least one hinge to a second of the plates.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 12/471,252, filed May 22, 2009, which claims the benefit ofU.S. Provisional Application No. 61/055,295, filed May 22, 2008, andwhich is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/057,954, filed Feb. 15, 2005. Priority is claimed to all of theabove-referenced applications, and all of the above-referencedapplications are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to protective articles andmethods and in particular to protective articles and methods forprotecting persons, animals, and other non-living articles or items fromimpact or other forces.

2. Description of Related Art

Guards and other protective equipment is widely used in amateur andprofessional sports and other activities to protect participants' frominjury. For example, in soccer, players often wear shin guards toprotect their lower legs in the event that they are kicked by otherplayers during a game. Football players wear protective shoulder andthigh pads to prevent injury due to impact with other players. Baseballplayers, such as catchers, use protective chest pads to prevent injuryif the catcher is struck by the baseball. Without adequate protection inthese sports and others, the risk of injury is high. Protectiveequipment is also used in non-sports settings. One example is themedical industry which uses casts and splints to immobilize and protectareas of a patient's body.

Existing guards and protective equipment provide some protection for thepersons or equipment to which the guards are applied, but the guards aretypically bulky and uncomfortable. Many times, the guards are a singlepiece of rigid plastic or other material that is affixed to theprotected article. Other times, the guards may be a very thick paddingor other material. Obtaining a customized fit between the guard and theprotected article is often impossible. In the case of person's wearingthe guard, this lack of customized fit makes the guards less comfortableto wear, and the guards could under some circumstances impede themovement of the person. Finally, a guard that does not fit properly alsofails to provide maximum impact protection to a person.

SUMMARY

The problems presented by existing protective guards and forcedistribution materials are solved by the systems and methods of theillustrative embodiments described herein. In one embodiment, a methodof improving an impact-protective property of a conformable substrateincludes positioning a central core adjacent the conformable substrate.The central core includes a plurality of rigid plates, a first of theplates being joined by at least one hinge to a second of the plates.

In another embodiment, a method of distributing an impact load over acontract area includes positioning a comformable substrate over thecontact area and positioning a central core adjacent the conformablesubstrate. The central core includes a plurality of rigid plates, afirst of the plates being joined by at least one hinge to a second ofthe plates. The contact area over which the impact load is distributedis greater than a second area over which the impact load would bedistributed in the absence of the central core.

In still another embodiment, a mattress includes an upholstery layer anda central core positioned adjacent the upholstery layer. The centralcore includes a plurality of rigid plates, a first of the plates beingjoined by at least one hinge to a second of the plates.

In yet another embodiment, a passenger seat includes a lower supportmember and a back support member. Each of the lower support member andthe back support member include a conformable substrate. A central coreis positioned adjacent at least one of the conformable substrate of thelower support member and the conformable substrate of the back supportmember. The central core includes a plurality of rigid plates, a firstof the plates being joined by at least one hinge to a second of theplates.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the illustrative embodimentswill become apparent with reference to the drawings, detaileddescription, and claims that follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of a protective guard according to anillustrative embodiment, the protective guard having a conformablesubstrate and a central core disposed therein;

FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of the protective guard of FIG. 1secured to a leg of a person;

FIG. 3 illustrates a partial front view of the central core of FIG. 1,the central core including a plurality of core members;

FIG. 4 depicts a partial front view of a plurality of round core membersaccording to an illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 5 illustrates a partial front view of a plurality of oval coremembers according to an illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 5A illustrates a partial front view of a plurality of hexagonalcore members according to an illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 6 depicts a partial front view of a plurality of rectangular coremembers according to an illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-sectional bottom view of the core members ofFIG. 3 taken at VII-VII;

FIG. 8 depicts a cross-sectional bottom view similar to FIG. 7 of aplurality of core members according to an illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 9 illustrates a cross-sectional bottom view of the core members ofFIG. 6 taken at IX-IX;

FIG. 10 depicts a cross-sectional bottom view of the conformablesubstrate and central core of FIG. 1 taken at X-X;

FIG. 11 illustrates a cross-sectional bottom view similar to FIG. 10 ofa conformable substrate and central core according to an illustrativeembodiment;

FIG. 12 depicts a cross-sectional bottom view similar to FIG. 10 of aconformable substrate and central core according to an illustrativeembodiment;

FIG. 13 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a conformable substrate, acentral core, and a flexible membrane according to an illustrativeembodiment, the cross-sectional view being similar to thecross-sectional view illustrated in FIG. 10;

FIG. 14 depicts a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 13 of aconformable substrate, a central core, and a flexible membrane accordingto an illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 15 illustrates a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 13 of aconformable substrate, a central core, and a flexible membrane accordingto an illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 16 depicts a side view of a glove having a central core accordingto an illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 17 illustrates a rear view of the glove of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 depicts a perspective view of an article of footwear having acentral core according to an illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 19 illustrates a perspective view of an article of footwear havinga central core according to an illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 20 depicts a perspective view of a bed according to an illustrativeembodiment, the bed having a mattress and central core;

FIG. 21 illustrates a cross-sectional front view of the mattress of FIG.20 taken at 21-21;

FIG. 22 depicts a side view of a passenger seat according to anillustrative embodiment, the passenger seat having a central core;

FIG. 23 illustrates a cross-sectional front view of the passenger seatof FIG. 22 taken at 23-23;

FIG. 24 depicts a graph of test data demonstrating contact area testingperformed on conformable substrates alone and conformable substrateswith a central core; and

FIG. 25 illustrates a graph of test data demonstrating peak pressuretesting performed on conformable substrates alone and conformablesubstrates that include a central core.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT

In the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments,reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof,and in which is shown by way of illustration specific preferredembodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodimentsare described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art topractice the invention, and it is understood that other embodiments maybe utilized and that logical structural, mechanical, electrical, andchemical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scopeof the invention. To avoid detail not necessary to enable those skilledin the art to practice the invention, the description may omit certaininformation known to those skilled in the art. The following detaileddescription is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and thescope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.

As used herein, the term “elastomer” refers to a polymeric, rubber(natural or synthetic), or other material that has elongation ratesgreater than 100%.

The term “conformable” refers to the ability of a material to be shapedto the contours of a surface without permanently deforming or settingthe material. The conformable material could be placed adjacent to afirst surface to provide a contour fit to the first surface, and thencould subsequently be placed adjacent a second surface and similarlyprovide a contour fit to the second surface.

Referring to FIG. 1, a protective guard 11 according to the principlesof the present invention includes a conformable substrate 13 and acentral core 15. The central core 15 is connected to or embedded withinthe conformable substrate 13 to provide impact protection to a body partof a person. In one embodiment, the conformable substrate 13 may includea pocket 19 (see FIG. 10) within the conformable substrate that housesthe central core 15. When the central core 15 is contained within pocket19, the conformable substrate 13 functions as a sheath, and an entryslot 21 may be optionally provided to allow access to pocket 19, therebyallowing the central core 13 to be selectively removed or inserted intothe conformable substrate 13. However, in one embodiment, the pocket 19is not accessible by an entry slot, thereby creating a sealed space forthe conformable substrate 13. The pocket 19 closely matches the shape ofthe central core 13 and may be formed by molding the conformablesubstrate 13 around the central core 13.

The conformable substrate 13 may be constructed from an elastomericmaterial such that the conformable substrate 13 can be easily wrappedaround and shaped to the contours of a person's lower leg or shin 61(see FIG. 2). In one embodiment, the conformable substrate may be madefrom Monprene MP-1880, a thermoplastic elastomer manufactured by TeknorApex, Thermoplastic Elastomer Division of Pawtucket, R.I. Other suitablematerials may include without limitation other thermoplastic elastomers,ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), natural rubber, polyisoprene, styrenebutadiene rubber, chloroprene rubber, polybutadiene, nitrile rubber,butyl rubber, ethylene propylene rubber, ethylene propylene dienerubber, chlorosulfonated polyethylene, polysulfide rubber, siliconerubber, polyurethane, or open-cell neoprene, energy-absorbent orviscoelastic foam such as a memory foam, or any other conformablematerial.

Referring to FIG. 3, the central core 15 includes a plurality of platemembers, or core members 31. In one embodiment, each core member isjoined by at least one hinge 33 to another of the core members 31 suchthat the core members 31 are capable of rotational movement relative toone another. The rotational movement between two core members typicallyoccurs along an axis that is positioned between the core members. Whenhinges 33 are used to connect the core members 31, the axis of rotationcorresponds to the rotational axis of the hinge. Representative axes ofrotation for the central core 15 of FIG. 3 are illustrated as axis 35 a,axis 35 b, and axis 35 c. The ability of the core members 31 torotationally move relative to one another allows the central core 15 tobe conformable to a shin or other body part of a person even though thematerial that forms the core members 31 would not necessarily beconformable if used in a singe piece.

Referring more specifically to FIGS. 3-6, the core members may be anyshape or size. In one embodiment, the core members 31 may be triangularin shape such as is illustrated in FIG. 3. In another embodiment, acentral core 15 a is partially shown in FIG. 4 having round core members31 a connected by hinges 33 a. FIG. 5 partially illustrates a centralcore 15 b having a plurality of oval core members 31 b connected byhinges 33 b. FIG. 5A partially illustrates a central core 15 e havinghexagonal core member 31 e connected to hinges 33 e. FIG. 6 partiallyillustrates a central core 15 c having rectangular core members 31 cconnected by hinges 33 c. Other shapes may include without limitationoctagonal, other polygonal, or free-form shapes.

Referring to FIG. 7, the core members 31 of protective guard 11 arepreferably substantially flat, rigid or semi-rigid plates constructedfrom a non-elastomeric material. In one embodiment, the core members 31are made from a hard plastic material such as acrylonitrile butadienestyrene (ABS), styrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, acrylic, polyvinylchloride (PVC), fluoroplastics, nylon, acetal, polycarbonate, polyimide,polyamide-imide, polyphenylene sulfide, polyarylates, polyethyleneterephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polyether ether ketone,polysulfone, polyether sulfone, polyetherimide, or polyphenylene oxide.However, it should be understood that any substantially rigid materialmay be used, including composites, metal, ceramics, synthetic fibermaterials such as Kevlar®, or wood. Although a non-elastomeric materialis preferred, the core members 31 may even be formed from an elastomericmaterial if rotational movement between the core members 31 would allowthe elastomeric material to better conform to the shin of a person.Preferably, the material used to form the core members 31, and thus thecentral core 15, is a material that is compatible with the materialchosen for the conformable substrate 13. Since some embodiments involvemolding the conformable substrate 13 over the central core 15, it isdesirous to use a central core material to which the conformablesubstrate 13 will adhere. A coating or adhesive may be applied to thecentral core 15 prior to the molding process to achieve additionaladhesion between the central core 15 and the conformable substrate 13.

Referring to FIG. 9, the central core 15 c of FIG. 6 is illustrated incross section and includes core members 31 c connected by hinges 33 c.While the core members may be substantially flat so that an impact forcedirected to the protective guard does not damage the conformablesubstrate, the core members 31 c illustrated in FIG. 9 include ridges41. The ridges 41 may be capable of absorbing additional energy byflattening in the presence of an impact force. Other alternatives to asubstantially flat core member may be provided by a core member that isslightly concave or convex in cross section. The core members couldalternatively be fluid-filled capsules such as those containing air orgel, or the core members may also be provided in a mesh configurationthat is hinged together similar to chain mail armor.

Referring again to FIG. 7 and also to FIG. 8, the hinges that connectthe core members may be provided in several different forms. In oneembodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, the hinge 33 is a “living hinge.” Theliving hinge is preferably integrally attached between the core members31 and is made from the same material as each of the core members 31.The living hinge may be created by machining or etching the core members31 from a single sheet of material having a relatively constantthickness. The sheet of material is thinned in any region that willbecome a hinge. This thinning process to create the hinges 33 alsocreates the general shape of the core members 31. Alternatively, thecore members 31 and hinges 33 may be formed by molding or any othermanufacturing process, including without limitation injection molding,compression molding, or transfer molding. Living hinges are a strong wayof maintaining a rotational connection between core members 31. Theliving hinges 33 allow repeated rotations between core members 31 whilemaintaining the relative positions of the core members 31 during theprocess of assembling the central core 15 and the conformable substrate13.

Referring to FIG. 8, another option for providing hinges is illustratedin reference to a central core 15 d having core members 31 d and hinges33 d. Hinges 33 d are formed by arranging precut core members 31 d ontoa membrane or other material 51 that includes an adhesive or gel tosecure the core members 31 d to the membrane 51. The membrane 51 couldbe an adhesive tape or other film, a mesh material or alternatively themembrane could be another piece of plastic or elastomer to which thecore members 31 d are bonded. In still another embodiment, the membranecould be a thin layer of the material comprising the conformablesubstrate. Membrane 51 could be applied to both sides of the coremembers 31 d or only on one side as shown in FIG. 8.

Although not illustrated, mechanical, multi-part hinges could also beused to connect adjacent core members. Additionally, hinges of differentthicknesses or having different material properties may be provided toallow the core members in one area of the central core to flexdifferently from core members in another area.

Referring again to FIG. 3, certain of the core members are located in anouter perimeter region 37, while other of the core members are locatedin an inner region 39. The core members 31 located in the inner region39 are preferably connected by hinges 33 along each edge of the coremember 31 to each adjacent core member 31. For core members 31 locatedin the outer perimeter region 37, hinges 33 are only attached to one ortwo edges of each core member 31. However, regardless of whether aparticular core member 31 is disposed within the outer perimeter region37 or the inner region 39, it is not required that every edge of a coremember 31 be connected by a hinge to another core member 31. In fact,hinges are not mandatory. Hinges simply provide a good way to maintainrelative positioning of the core members 31 during assembly of thecentral core 15 and the conformable substrate 13. If the relativepositioning of the core members 31 could be maintained without hinges,the fixation of the core members 31 within or to the conformablesubstrate 13 would allow the desired capability of rotational movementbetween adjacent core members 31. Alternatives for positioning the coremembers 31 are discussed below in reference to the assembly of thecentral core 15 and the conformable substrate 13.

Referring to FIG. 10, in one embodiment, the protective guard 11includes core members 31 that are completely embedded within theconformable substrate 13. As mentioned previously, a pocket 19 could beprovided with an entry slot that allows for insertion of the centralcore 15 after the conformable substrate 13 is formed. Alternatively, thecentral core 15 may be molded within the conformable substrate 13, whichwould automatically form a pocket 19 around the central core 15. It ispreferred that hinges 33 are present between the core members 31 tomaintain the relative position of the core members 31 during the moldingprocess. It is possible, however, that the core members 31 beindividually placed during the molding process to eliminate the need forthe hinges 33. After the molding process, the relative positions (e.g.spacing) of the core members 31 would be fixed within the conformablesubstrate 13, yet the core members 31 would still be capable ofrotational movement relative to one another.

Referring to FIG. 11, in another embodiment, a protective guard 111having a conformable substrate 113 and a central core 115 isillustrated. The central core 115 includes a plurality of core members131 connected by hinges 133. The central core 115 is partially embeddedwithin a pocket 119 of the conformable substrate 113, thereby exposingthe core members 131 near a surface of the conformable substrate 113.The central core 115 may be secured to the conformable substrate 113 bythe embedding process, or a bonding agent or any other adhesive or gelmay be used to further secure the central core 115. Alternatively, thecentral core 115 may be attached by sewing means, heat fastening means,ultrasonic fastening means, or any other fastening means. As discussedpreviously in reference to FIG. 10, the hinges 133 between core members131 could be eliminated if the core members 131 were individually placedduring the assembly process. Individual core members 131 could be placedduring the molding of the conformable substrate 113, or the core memberscould be bonded within the pocket 119 of the conformable substrate 113after the molding process is complete. After securing the core members131 to the conformable substrate 113, the relative positions (e.g.spacing) of the core members 131 would be fixed, yet the core members131 would still be capable of rotational movement relative to oneanother.

Referring to FIG. 12, in another embodiment, a protective guard 211having a conformable substrate 213 and a central core 215 isillustrated. The central core 215 includes a plurality of core members231 connected by hinges 233. In one embodiment, the central core 215 isbonded to a surface of the conformable substrate 213 by a bonding agent,adhesive, or gel. Alternatively, the central core 215 may be attached tothe conformable substrate 213 by sewing means, heat fastening means,ultrasonic fastening means, or any other fastening means. As discussedpreviously with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, the hinges 233 betweencore members 231 could be eliminated if the core members 231 wereindividually placed during the bonding process. After securing the coremembers 231 to the conformable substrate 213, the relative positions(e.g. spacing) of the core members would be fixed, yet the core memberswould still be capable of rotational movement relative to one another.

Referring to FIG. 13, a protective guard 311 according to anotherembodiment of the invention includes a conformable substrate 313, acentral core 315, and a flexible membrane 317. The central core 315includes a plurality of core members 331 connected by hinges 333. Thecentral core 315 is at least partially embedded within a pocket 319 ofthe conformable substrate 313, and at least a portion of the centralcore 315 is covered by flexible membrane 317. While each of theconformable substrate 313, central core 315 and flexible membrane 317(the three layers) may be adhesively bonded or otherwise attached to theother layers, some of the layers may not be attached to one another. Forexample, central core 315 may be placed on the conformable substrate 313without attachment. The flexible membrane 317 may include an adhesive onone side that permits adherence of the flexible membrane 317 to both thecentral core 315 and the conformable substrate 313, thereby holding thecentral core 315 in place relative to the conformable substrate 313.Alternatively, the flexible membrane 317 may not be attached to thecentral core 315 but rather only to the conformable substrate 313. Whilethe pocket 319 could be preformed in the conformable substrate 313 toreceive the central core 315, the pocket 319 could instead be formed byan elastic deformation of the conformable substrate 313 in the presenceof a compressive force applied by the flexible membrane 317 to thecentral core 315. If the layers of the protective guard 311 areattached, attachment may be accomplished by a bonding agent or any otheradhesive or gel, sewing means, ultrasonic means, heat means, or anyother fastening means. As discussed previously in reference to FIG.10-12, the hinges 333 between core members 331 could be eliminated ifthe core members 331 were individually placed during the assemblyprocess. Individual core members 331 could be placed during the moldingof the conformable substrate 313, or the core members could be bondedwithin the pocket 319 of the conformable substrate 313 after the moldingprocess is complete. Alternatively, the core members 331 (hinged orunhinged) could be attached to the flexible membrane 317 prior tosecuring the flexible membrane 317 to the conformable substrate.

Referring to FIG. 14, a protective guard 411 according to anotherembodiment of the invention includes a conformable substrate 413, acentral core 415, and a flexible membrane 417. The layers of protectiveguard 411 and the methods of attachment are substantially the same asprotective guard 311 described in FIG. 13, including without limitationattaching any or all of the layers to adjacent layers or simply placingthe layers adjacent one another. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG.14, the central core 415 is not embedded within a pocket of theconformable substrate 413. Instead, the central core 415 is attached toor positioned against an outer surface of the conformable substrate 413.The central core 415 is also similar to those previously described inthat the central core 415 includes a plurality of core members 431connected by hinges 433. While the central core 415 of FIG. 14 isillustrated as being between the flexible membrane 417 and theconformable substrate 413, the central core 415 may be positioned suchthat the flexible membrane 417 is positioned between the conformablesubstrate 413 and the central core 415. In such an embodiment, thecentral core 415 may be sewn, glued, or otherwise bonded to the flexiblemembrane 417 and then the flexible membrane 417 sewn, glued, orotherwise attached to the conformable substrate 413.

Referring to FIG. 15, a protective guard 511 according to anotherembodiment of the invention includes a conformable substrate 513, aplurality of core members 515, and a flexible membrane 517. In thisembodiment, the core members 515 are not connected by hinges, but rathereach core member is placed within a pocket 519 formed in the conformablesubstrate 513. The flexible membrane 517 is positioned over theconformable substrate 513 and the core members 515 to create asubstantially flat impact surface. While each of the conformablesubstrate 513, the core members 515 and flexible membrane 517 (the threelayers) may be adhesively bonded or otherwise attached to the otherlayers, some of the layers may not be attached to one another. Forexample, the core members 515 may be placed within the pockets 519without attachment. The flexible membrane 517 may include an adhesive orgel on one side that permits adherence of the flexible membrane 517 toboth the core members 515 and the conformable substrate 513, therebyholding the core members 515 in place relative to the conformablesubstrate 513. Alternatively, the flexible membrane 517 may not beattached to the core members 515 but rather only to the conformablesubstrate 513. While the pockets 519 could be preformed in theconformable substrate 513 to receive the core members 515, the pockets519 could instead be formed by an elastic deformation of the conformablesubstrate 513 in the presence of a compressive force applied by theflexible membrane 517 to the core members 515. While the conformablesubstrate 513 is illustrated with multiple pockets 519 in FIG. 15, asingle pocket may instead be provided to receive multiple core members515. If the layers of the protective guard 511 are attached to oneanother, attachment may be accomplished by a bonding agent or any otheradhesive or gel, sewing means, ultrasonic means, heat means, or anyother fastening means.

Referring again to FIGS. 13-15, the flexible membrane 317, 417, and 517may be any flexible material that is capable of being attached to eitherthe conformable substrate or the central core. In one embodiment, theflexible membrane may be a flexible fabric made from natural fabricsincluding, without limitation, wool, cotton, silk, leather, or linen; orsynthetic fibers including, without limitation, acetate, acrylic, latex,spandex, nylon, polyester, rayon; or blends of the above-mentionedfabrics; or any other material that includes natural and/or syntheticfibers that have been weaved, felted, knitted, crocheted, or otherwisearranged. The fabrics may be flame or fire retardant or resistant, suchas for example, Nomex®.

It is important to note that the membranes, fabrics, conformablesubstrates, skeletal plates, core members, covers, and backingsdescribed herein may be bonded, layered, or connected in part or totalto one another or may be layered but not bonded. While the illustrativeembodiments described herein have been generally described as includingsingle layers of each component (e.g., conformable substrate, coremembers, membranes) of the protective guard, any guard or other deviceincorporating these components may include multiple layers of one ormore of the components. Furthermore, for a particular component that isprovided in multiple layers, the multiple layers of the component may bearranged adjacent to one another, or may be arranged such that one ormore layers of a different component is intermediately disposed betweenthe multiple layers.

In use, the protective guard 11, 111, 211 of the present inventionprovides impact protection for an extremity or other body part of aperson. As shown in FIG. 2, the protective guard 11 is conformable tothe shin and lower leg 61 of a person. The conformable substrate 13 andthe central core 15 combine to provide superior impact protection. Whilethe conformable substrate 13 by itself is conformable to a leg or otherbody part, the more rigid characteristics of the material used in thecentral core 15 would normally not be easily conformable to the person'sleg. However, by separating the central core 15 into a plurality of coremembers 31 and by allowing the core members 31 to be rotationallymovable relative to one another, the central core 15 as a whole is alsoconformable to the leg of the person. The hinges 33 of the central core15 provide additional impact resistance for point loads and impactssince the hinges are capable of transmitting impact forces to adjacentcore members 31. An attachment aperture 65 is provided on each side ofthe conformable substrate 13 to allow protective guard 11 to be attachedto the person's leg with a strap 67 routed through the attachmentaperture 65. An ankle guard 71 may also be provided to wrap around theankle of the person. The ankle guard 71 could include a central core,but preferably is formed solely from the conformable substrate used withprotective guard 11, 111, 211. Similarly, the protective guard itselfcould be formed solely from the conformable substrate and used withoutthe central core. If only the conformable substrate is used, thematerial may be thicker in areas of predicted impact or may be formedfrom two or more elastomers having different durometers (i.e. amulti-durometer conformable substrate).

Referring to FIGS. 16 and 17, a glove 611 having a central portion 615,a plurality of finger portions 619, a thumb portion 623, and a wristportion 627 includes an opening 629 for insertion of a hand. In at leastone of or all of the central portion 615, the plurality of fingerportions 619, the thumb portion 623, and the wrist portion 627, a pocket635 may be provided to receive a central core 639 having a plurality ofcore members connected by hinges as previously described herein. Thecore members and hinges allow multi-directional movement of the portionsof the hand positioned adjacent the central core in each of the centralportion 615, the plurality of finger portions 619, the thumb portion623, and the wrist portion 627. The central core 639 may be a singlearticle that is shaped to fit into multiple of the portions of the glove611 containing a pocket. Alternatively, an individual central core 639may be placed in each individual pocket 635 of the glove 611. Whenpockets are provided, the central core may be positioned within,embedded, partially-embedded, free-floating, adhesively secured, bonded,sewn or otherwise attached as previously described herein. In anotherembodiment, the pockets 635 of the glove 611 may be eliminated, and thecentral core 639 or multiple central cores 639 may be secured to anexterior or interior surface of the glove in the region of the centralportion 615, the plurality of finger portions 619, the thumb portion623, and/or the wrist portion 627. As previously described with respectto the flexible membranes of FIGS. 13-15, a flexible membrane may bepositioned over the central core 639 to assist in joining the centralcore 639 to the glove material.

The glove 611 may be used for protection from impact and otherpotentially detrimental forces encountered in any sports or otheractivity. For example, inclusion of a central core 639 in the centralportion 615 and finger portions 619 over the back of the hand may bedesirable for baseball gloves to protect batters from impact by abaseball. A central core 639 may be positioned over the palm of the handin the central portion 615 to protect motorcyclists, bicyclists, andskaters from impact and abrasive frictional forces that may be causedwhen the hands are used to cushion an impact with the ground.

Referring to FIGS. 18 and 19, an article of footwear, such as forexample a work boot 711 or a hockey skate 811, includes a toe portion715, a heel portion 719, a tongue portion 725, an outsole 729, and aninsole (not shown). In at least one of or all of the toe portion 715,the heel portion 719, the tongue portion 725, the outsole 729, and theinsole, a pocket 735 may be provided to receive a central core 739having a plurality of core members connected by hinges as previouslydescribed herein. The core members and hinges allow multi-directionalmovement (i.e., rotational movement about more than one axis) of theportions of the foot positioned adjacent the central core in each of thetoe portion 715, the heel portion 719, the tongue portion 725, theoutsole 729, and the insole. The central core 639 may be a singlearticle that is shaped to fit into multiple of the portions of thefootwear 711, 811 containing a pocket. Alternatively, an individualcentral core 739 may be placed in each individual pocket 735 of thefootwear 711, 811. When pockets are provided, the central core may bepositioned within, embedded, partially-embedded, free-floating,adhesively secured, bonded, sewn or otherwise attached as previouslydescribed herein. In another embodiment, the pockets 735 of the footwear11 may be eliminated, and the central core 739 or multiple central cores739 may be secured to an exterior or interior surface of the footwear inthe region of the toe portion 715, the heel portion 719, the tongueportion 725, the outsole 729, and/or the insole. As previously describedwith respect to the flexible membranes of FIGS. 13-15, a flexiblemembrane may be positioned over the central core 739 to assist injoining the central core 739 to the footwear material.

The footwear 711 may be used for protection from impact and otherpotentially detrimental forces encountered in any sports or otheractivity. For example, inclusion of a central core 739 in the tongueportion 725 of the hockey skate 811 provides significant protection togoalies from hockey-puck impacts. Similarly, a central core 639 may bepositioned in the toe portion 715 or heel portion 719 of the work boot711 to protect against impacts received in industrial or otherwork-related settings.

It should be noted that the protective guards described herein may beused to protect body parts other than the lower legs, hands, or feet ofa person including without limitation the torso, back, forearms, wrists,elbows, thighs, knees, shoulders, chest, face, head, and otherextremities. In one example, the central core or protective guard may becombined with helmets or other headwear to protect the head from impact.Body parts may also be protected by combining a central core such asthat described herein with clothing, either by sewing the central coreto the clothing, within a pocket of the clothing, or by otherwiseattaching the central core to the clothing. For example, the centralcore or protective guard may be combined with shirts, jackets, shorts,pants, hats or other articles of clothing.

In another example, the protective guards described herein may be usedto protect hips and other body parts from impact during falls. Hipfractures and other broken bones due to falls result in serious injuriesand medical complications for many elderly people. Attachment of theprotective guard over a person's hip may help prevent some of theseinjuries. In one example, a flexible material, such as a surgical tapewith an adhesive backing, may be applied to the skin of a patientadjacent the hip. On an outward facing side of the flexible material,one component of a hook-and-loop material may be positioned. Aprotective guard having a central core such as those described hereinmay be removably attached to the flexible material using anothercomponent of the hook-and-look material that is positioned on theprotective guard. The protective guard may be easily replaced,repositioned, or removed for the comfort and safety of the patient.While the protective guard may include both a conformable substrate anda central core, in one embodiment, the central core may be attached tothe flexible material or directly to the patient without the use of aconformable substrate. While attachment has been described as usingcomplementary hook-and-loop type material, any fastening means may beused including, without limitation, adhesives, sewing, or other suitableattachment means.

In still another example of the use of the guards and central coresdescribed herein, the devices may be used to protect body parts ofnon-human animals as well, or alternatively, non-living articles orequipment. For example, the central cores may be attached orincorporated as described herein to luggage, briefcases, computer travelbags, gun cases, or other bags and storage containers to protect thecontents therein. In another example, the central core or protectiveguard may be attached to or incorporated within athletic flooring,subflooring, or ground covering to provide support and impactresistance. The central cores may be attached to or incorporated intothe fabric of clothing to protect various areas of human or other animalbodies. While the protective guards and central cores described hereinare often presented as being incorporated into sports and work-relatedequipment, it should be recognized that the use of these elements may beexpanded beyond these particular uses. For example, one or more centralcores may be attached to or incorporated into various medical devicessuch as splints and casts. The inclusion of the central core in thesedevices would provide additional protection against impact and otherforces for the body parts to which the splints and casts are applied.Other examples, which are described in more detail below, include theuse of the central core with bed mattresses or passenger seats.

Referring to FIGS. 20 and 21, a bed 911 according to an illustrativeembodiment includes a mattress 915 that may be positioned on afoundation 919. Both the mattress 915 and the foundation 919 may besupported by a bed frame 923. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 20,the foundation 919 is a box-spring that includes a rigid frame andplurality of springs (not illustrated). In other embodiments, thefoundation 919 may be a traditional wood foundation that may be madefrom soft woods, such as pine, or hard woods. A traditional woodfoundation may include several wooden support slats that may or may notbe covered by a wood sheathing. In another embodiment a grid foundationcomprised of steel and wood may be provided. Alternatively, the mattress915 or mattress 915 and box spring 919 combination may be placeddirectly on a floor or other support surface.

Mattress 915 includes may include a plurality of layers including, forexample, a quilting layer 927, a middle upholstery layer 931, aninsulator layer 935, and a support layer 939. In one embodiment, thequilting layer 927 may include a fabric 941, or ticking, having abedding surface 945 on which a user of the mattress 915 will sit or lie.The fabric 941 may also include a light foam or fibers stitched to anunderside of the fabric 941. The fabric 941 may be used to encase themattress 915 and provides a soft surface texture to the mattress. Thefabric 941 may be made of synthetic fibers like polyester or acrylic, orof natural materials such as latex, cotton, silk, and wool. The fabric941 may also be made from any of the other fabric or flexible membranematerials described herein, such as for example those associated withflexible membranes 317, 317, 517.

The middle upholstery layer 931 of the mattress 915 may be positionedbeneath the quilting layer 927, and may include one or more conformablematerials that allow some compression of the mattress 915 but that alsoprovide comfort to the user of the mattress 915. The middle upholsterylayer 931 may include one or more foam layers, such as for example foamlayer 951, foam layer 953, and foam layer 955. Foam layer 953 may beinclude an “egg-crate” configuration that includes ridges 961 andvalleys 963 to provide additional comfort to the user of the mattress915. The foam layers 951, 953, 955 may be any type of foam includingwithout limitation open or closed-cell foams. More specifically, thefoams may be made from viscoelastic foam materials, felt, polyesterfibers, cotton fibers, or non-woven fiber pads. The foam layers 951,953, 955 may also be made from any of the other foam or conformablesubstrate materials described herein, such as for example thoseassociated with conformable substrates 13, 113, 213, 313, 413, 513.

Beneath the middle upholstery layer 931, the insulator layer 935separates the support layer 939 from the middle upholstery layer 931.The insulator layer may be made of fibers or mesh and is suitable tokeep the middle upholstery layer 931 in place and to protect the middleupholstery layer 931. In one embodiment, the support layer 939 includescompression springs 971 made from steel or another material suitable forproviding resistance to compression of the mattress 915. The materialand gauge of the compression springs 971 may by chosen for a particularmattress depending on the desired level of firmness of the mattress.

The mattress 915 includes a central core 981 that may be positionedbetween the quilting layer 927 and the middle upholstery layer 931. Thecentral core 981 includes a plurality of core members 983 that may beconnected by hinges as previously described herein. In one embodiment,the core members 983 may be connected by living hinges 985 made from thesame material as core members 983 (see FIG. 20). The core members andhinges allow multi-directional movement (i.e., rotational movement aboutmore than one axis) of the central core 981 when the central core 981 ispositioned within the mattress 915. In another embodiment, the centralcore 981 may include core members 983 without hinges, the core members983 being positioned in place relative to other core members 983 andthen constrained by layers of the mattress 915 adjacent the central core981.

The central core 981 may be a single article that is shaped to fitwithin the layers of the mattress 915, or alternatively, multiplecentral cores 981 may be positioned within the mattress 915 in thoseareas for which it is desired for the foam layers (or other conformablesubstrates) of the mattress 915 to have additional resistance tocompression or impact. The central core 981 may be placed such that in aresting state, the central core 981 is substantially parallel to thebedding surface 945. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 21, only asingle layer of core members 983 is provided. In other embodiments,multiple layers of core members 983 may be positioned adjacent oneanother or dispersed throughout the layers of the mattress 915.

While the central core 981 has been illustrated in FIGS. 20 and 21 asbeing positioned beneath the quilting layer 927, the central core 981may be positioned in any position that allows the central core 981 toassist in distributing impact or compressive forces delivered to themattress 915. In one embodiment, the central core 981 may be positionedabove the quilting layer 927 and may be covered by a fabric or flexiblemembrane. Alternatively, the central core 981 could be bonded orotherwise adhered to the bedding surface 945 of the quilting layer 927.In another embodiment, the central core 981 may be placed on a side ofthe one or more layers of the middle upholstery layer 931 opposite aside nearest the quilting layer 927. In still another embodiment, thecentral core 981 may be placed between the middle upholstery layer 931and the insulator layer 935, or between the insulator layer 935 and thesupport layer 939.

When a double-sided mattress is provided, the mattress may that includesmiddle upholstery layers 931 and quilting layers 927 on both sides ofthe support layer 939. In such an instance, the mattress includes twobedding surfaces 945, one on each side of the mattress. Similarly, themattress may include two central cores 981, one associated with eachside of the mattress. Each central core 981 may be placed among thelayers of the mattress as previously described.

The presence of the central core 981 in mattress 915 permits betterdistribution of loads exerted by a user of the mattress. As a load isapplied to the central core 981, the core members 983 near an area towhich the load is applied deflect. The core members 983 are able toabsorb some of the load, which alleviate some of the load beingtransferred to other layers, such as foam layers, adjacent the centralcore 981. The hinges 985 permit transfer of point or area loads fromcore members 983 to adjacent core member 983, which assists indistributing the load across a larger area. By distributing the loadapplied to a mattress over a larger area, the quilting, foam, or otherconformable substrates associated with the mattress are less prone tocompression-set, in which the quilting, foam, or other conformablesubstrates are unable to return to a pre-compressed state. This in turnresults in a mattress with a longer effective life.

In addition to providing an increase in longevity, the central core maybe used to increase the firmness of a mattress. This may be accomplishedby layering multiple flexible cores within the mattress. Alternatively,a flexible core made from thicker core member or hinges may be used. Inanother embodiment, the flexibility of the material that makes up thehinges or the core members may be selected based on the desiredstiffness of the mattress.

A person of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that while FIGS. 20and 21 present use of a central core with a traditional, inner-springmattress, the central core may be similarly used with a latex or otherfoam mattress that does not include springs.

Referring to FIGS. 22 and 23, a passenger seat 1011 according to anillustrative embodiment includes a lower support member 1015 and a backsupport member 1019. A base 1023 may be provided to securely attach thelower support member 1015 to a floor of a vehicle. In one embodiment thevehicle may be a an airplane, while in another embodiment the vehiclemay be a car, truck, or other automobile. Still other possibilitiesinclude helicopters, boats, submarines, earth-moving equipment,tractors, industrial equipments, or any other type of vehicle capable oftransporting or housing passengers, a pilot, driver, or operator.

The lower support member 1015 may include a plurality of layersincluding, for example, a quilting layer 1027, an upholstery layer 1031,and a support layer 1039 (see FIG. 23). In one embodiment, the quiltinglayer 1027 may include a fabric 1041, or ticking, having a seatingsurface 1045 on which a user of the passenger seat 1011 will sit. Thefabric 1041 may also include a light foam or fibers stitched to anunderside of the fabric 1041. The fabric 1041 may be used to encase thelower support member 1015 and provides a soft surface texture to thepassenger seat 1011. The fabric 1041 may be made of synthetic fiberslike polyester or acrylic, or of natural materials such as latex,cotton, silk, leather and wool. The fabric 1041 may also be made fromany of the other fabric or flexible membrane materials described herein,such as for example those associated with flexible membranes 317, 317,517.

The upholstery layer 1031 of the passenger seat 1011 may be positionedbeneath the quilting layer 1027, and may include one or more conformablematerials that allow some compression of the passenger seat 1011 butthat also provide comfort to the user of the passenger seat 1011. Theupholstery layer 1031 may include one or more foam layers, such as forexample foam layer 1051. The foam layer 1051 (and any additional foamlayers) may be any type of foam including without limitation open orclosed-cell foams. More specifically, the foams may be made fromviscoelastic foam materials, felt, polyester fibers, cotton fibers, ornon-woven fiber pads. The foam layers may also be made from any of theother foam or conformable substrate materials described herein, such asfor example those associated with conformable substrates 13, 113, 213,313, 413, 513.

Beneath the upholstery layer 1031, the support layer 1039 is positionedto provide additional support for the user of the passenger seat 1011.The support layer 1039 may be a molded plastic or metal tub that isformed to cradle and support the additional layers of the seat 1011 andthe body of the user. Alternatively, or in addition to a rigid frame orsupport, a plurality of compression springs (not illustrated) made fromsteel or another material may be included in the support layer 1039 toprovide further resistance to compression. The material and gauge of thecompression springs may by chosen for a particular seat depending on thedesired level of firmness of the passenger seat.

The passenger seat 1011 includes a central core 1081 that may bepositioned between the quilting layer 1027 and the upholstery layer1031. The central core 1081 includes a plurality of core members 1083that may be connected by hinges as previously described herein. In oneembodiment, the core members 1083 may be connected by living hinges 1085made from the same material as core members 1083 (see FIG. 22). The coremembers and hinges allow multi-directional movement (i.e., rotationalmovement about more than one axis) of the central core 1081 when thecentral core 1081 is positioned within the passenger seat 1011. Inanother embodiment, the central core 1081 may include core members 1083without hinges, the core members 1083 being positioned in place relativeto other core members 1083 and then constrained by layers of thepassenger seat 1011 adjacent the central core 1081.

The central core 1081 may be a single article that is shaped to fitwithin the layers of the lower support member 1015, or alternatively,multiple central cores 1081 may be positioned within the lower supportmember 1015 in those areas for which it is desired for the foam layers(or other conformable substrates) of the lower support member 1015 tohave additional resistance to compression or impact. The central core1081 may be placed such that in a resting state, the central core 1081is substantially parallel to the seating surface 1045. In the embodimentillustrated in FIG. 23, only a single layer of core members 1083 isprovided. In other embodiments, multiple layers of core members 1083 maybe positioned adjacent one another or dispersed throughout the layers ofthe lower support member 1015.

While the central core 1081 has been illustrated in FIGS. 22 and 23 asbeing positioned beneath the quilting layer 1027, the central core 1081may be positioned in any position that allows the central core 1081 toassist in distributing impact or compressive forces delivered to thelower support member 1015. In one embodiment, the central core 1081 maybe positioned above the quilting layer 1027 and may be covered by afabric or flexible membrane. Alternatively, the central core 1081 couldbe bonded or otherwise adhered to the seating surface 1045 of thequilting layer 1027. In another embodiment, the central core 1081 may beplaced on a side of the upholstery layer 1031 opposite a side nearestthe quilting layer 1027.

While the layers of the lower support member 1015 have been illustratedin FIG. 23, a similar configuration of layers may be present for backsupport member 1019. A quilting layer or fabric on one side of the backsupport member 1019 defines a back rest surface 1091, which supports aback of the user of the passenger seat 1011. A quilting layer or fabricon an opposite side of the back support member 1019 defines a rearsurface 1093. With respect to the back support member 1019, a supportlayer similar to support layer 1039 may be positioned the quiltinglayers forming the back rest surface 1091 and the rear surface 1093. Inone embodiment, upholstery layers or foam layers may be provided betweeneach quilting layer and the support layer of the back support member1019. As is illustrated in FIG. 22, one or more central cores 1081 maybe associated with the back support member 1019, one or more beingpositioned nearer the back rest surface 1091 and one or more beingpositioned near the rear surface 1093.

The presence of the central core 1081 in passenger seat 1011 permitsbetter distribution of loads exerted by a user of the seat. As a load isapplied to the central core 1081, the core members 1083 near an area towhich the load is applied deflect. The core members 1083 are able toabsorb some of the load, which alleviate some of the load beingtransferred to other layers, such as foam layers, adjacent the centralcore 1081. The hinges 1085 permit transfer of point or area loads fromcore members 1083 to adjacent core member 1083, which assists indistributing the load across a larger area. By distributing the loadapplied to the seat over a larger area, the quilting, foam, or otherconformable substrates associated with the seat are less prone tocompression-set, in which the quilting, foam, or other conformablesubstrates are unable to return to a pre-compressed state. This in turnresults in a seat with a longer effective life.

In addition to providing an increase in longevity, the central core maybe used to increase the firmness of a seat. This may be accomplished bylayering multiple flexible cores within the seat. Alternatively, aflexible core made from thicker core member or hinges may be used. Inanother embodiment, the flexibility of the material that makes up thehinges or the core members may be selected based on the desiredstiffness of the seat.

The presence of the central core 1081 in the back support member 1019near the rear surface 1093 aids in distributing impact loads that maystrike the back support member 1019 on the rear surface 1093. Forexample, when the passenger seat 1011 is a seat in an airplane, the rearsurface 1093 may be impacted by another passenger or a some other objectduring an emergency. The core members and hinges, by providing paths forload transfer and distribution, distribute the impact loads, therebyprotecting the user of the seat, and possibly lessening injury or damageto the person or object striking the seat.

A person of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that while FIGS. 22and 23 present use of a central core with a passenger seat, the centralcore may be similarly used with chairs, sofas, or other seating of anykind.

The combined use of a central core with a conformable substrate asdescribed herein assists in distributing forces, both impact and otherforces. This force distribution results in lesser peak loads and forcesbeing transmitted to the person, or item, or product with which thecentral core and conformable substrate are associated. A portion of theforce distribution may be attributed to initial deflections ofindividual core members that are exposed to a point or area load.Additional distribution of the load is provided by the flexion orrotation of the affected core members relative to adjacent core members,as well as the transmission of loads through hinges to the adjacent coremembers.

Laboratory testing was performed to determine the effectiveness of thecentral cores described herein at dispersing impact. A high-speedMedscan (Tekscan) pressure mapping program was used to capture dataregarding contact area and peak pressure when impact forces were appliedto the tested materials. A comparative analysis was made between severalconformable substrates (e.g. foam products) and the same foam productscovered with the central cores. In the testing that was performed, thecentral cores included hexagonal core members connected to adjacent coremembers by living hinges made from the same material as that of the coremembers. Table 1 presents the data collected for contact area testing,and a graph illustrating this data is provided in FIG. 24. As can beseen from FIG. 24, the load was distributed over a much larger area whenthe central core was placed adjacent each foam. FIG. 25 illustrates peakcontact pressure values observed for each testing scenario. The measuredcontact pressure was much less when the central core was positionedadjacent the foam.

TABLE 1 Foam Only Foam with Central Core Visco Foam 0.62 1.15 MC200 0.761.14 ¼″ Brock 0.57 1 Cross Link Foam 0.68 1.16 ⅛″ Neoprene 0.53 0.84

To further demonstrate the effectiveness of the central core, thecontact area and peak pressure testing was repeated with non-connectedhard plates positioned over the foam. While some improvement was notedcompared to the foam alone, the improvement was substantially less thanthe improvement noted when using the central core, with interconnectedcore members. The hinges of the central core allow for impact dispersionto be spread across a wider area, thus reducing impact forces.Additionally, the hinged core members prevent individual plates fromover-rotating or over-tilting, thereby improving the plate's peakpressure dispersive properties as compared to non-connected plates.

As can be seen from the preceding examples, the application of theprotective guards and central cores described herein are not limited andmay include any application where it is desired to protect humans,animals, or non-living articles or equipment from impact and otherforces.

It should be apparent from the foregoing that an invention havingsignificant advantages has been provided. While the invention is shownin only a few of its forms, it is not just limited but is susceptible tovarious changes and modifications without departing from the spiritthereof.

1-25. (canceled)
 26. A passenger seat comprising: a lower support memberand a back support member, each of the lower support member and the backsupport member having a conformable substrate; and a central corepositioned adjacent to at least one of the conformable substrate of thelower support member and the conformable substrate of the back supportmember, the central core having a plurality of rigid plates, a first ofthe plates being joined by at least one hinge to a second of the plates.27. The passenger seat of claim 26, wherein the central core ispositioned beneath a rear surface of the back support member to dispersea load from a passenger or object behind the passenger seat makingcontact with the passenger seat.
 28. The passenger seat of claim 26,wherein the hinge is a living hinge formed from the same material as therigid plates.
 29. The passenger seat of claim 26, wherein each of therigid plates is joined by at least one hinge to another of the rigidplates.
 30. The passenger seat of claim 26 further comprising: aflexible fabric membrane comprised of natural or synthetic fiberspositioned adjacent to at least one of the conformable substrate and thecentral core.
 31. The passenger seat of claim 26, wherein the hingehingedly attaches an edge of the first plate to an edge of the secondplate.
 32. The passenger seat of claim 31, wherein the hinge joins lessthan the entire edge of the first plate to less than the entire edge ofthe second plate.
 33. The passenger seat of claim 26, wherein the hingeis integrally connected to each of the first plate and the second plate.34. The passenger seat of claim 26, wherein the first plate is hexagonalin shape.
 35. The passenger seat of claim 26, wherein the central coreis positioned adjacent to the conformable substrate of the lower supportmember.
 36. The passenger seat of claim 26, wherein the central core ispositioned adjacent to the conformable substrate of the back supportmember.
 37. The passenger seat of claim 26, wherein the passenger seatis configured to attach to a floor of a vehicle.
 38. The passenger seatof claim 37, wherein the vehicle comprises an airplane.
 39. A passengerseat comprising: a base to attach to a vehicle; a support member tosupport a human user, wherein the support member comprises: a coreincluding a plurality of plates, a first one of the plurality of platesbeing hingedly attached, at one or more edges of the first plate, to oneor more substantially adjacent other plates in the plurality of plates,wherein each hinge hingedly attaching an edge of the first plate toanother plate joins less than the entire respective hingedly attachededge to a corresponding one of the one or more substantially adjacentother plates and is integrally connected to the first plate.
 40. Thepassenger seat of claim 39, wherein the support member further comprisesa conformable substrate, wherein the core reinforces the conformablesubstrate.
 41. The passenger seat of claim 40, wherein the core ispositioned adhered to a surface of the conformable substrate.
 42. Thepassenger seat of claim 40, wherein the core is integrated within theconformable substrate.
 43. The passenger seat of claim 39, wherein thehinges facilitate multidirectional rotation of the core.
 44. Thepassenger seat of claim 39, wherein the base is to attach to a floor ofthe vehicle.